On my way in from Ochi this morning, I stopped in Port Maria to check on the Ignota's home, which she purchased when she was only 26 (or so oral hisroty has it)....all a part of our beautiful story...there is someone called fire 'taking care' of it now, and the view is still spectacular! It's truly a treasure....i'm sure there are many lifetimes of stories here and I'd love to hear some....leave your account of this piece of history which lives on today....
I took the opportunity to take a closer look....
Fire is a caretaker of sorts, installed by Brother George Silvera
ReplyDeleteMama as a young girl , had the will to own her own house, to turn her own key, to be independent. Life was not easy, but she worked as a store attendant, she saved more than she consumed. In addition I believe oral history reorts that she also got a little insurance money for injury suffered in a bus accident. She put her little much with the insurance cheque and purchased Pt Maria. Ignota is a great example of what thrift can achieve with hard work. Let us continue to learn from her.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Daughter 5 of Ignota
I see a diamond
ReplyDeleteMama always knew what she was doing.
She always got the best for her money.
I noticed that house is built on rocks.
I pray tonight that Mama feels joy and peace
and that she knows that she has the victory.
Steffi,
ReplyDeleteI lived here with Mama and Joan Pauline until I was about four years old. We moved to kingston a few months after Genevieve was born. I have many memories of this house and location. George came to visit as he stayed mainly with Grandmother Ethel in Orocabessa where he still lives. That is where mama grew up. We went to that Parish church across the street. Uncle George was an Altar boy here. Aunty P. held my hand and we ran across that street to Sunday School. We sat on our Verandah sometimes on the steps and I spent many days gazing at the sea.
Verandah with lattice work now missing. Also missing are the glorious scarlett and purple Bouganvillas which made a front fence of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI've heard stories of Grandma going from house to house selling household items...do you remember the details of this...it was in Port Maria right?
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ReplyDeleteI remember visiting this house with the Anderson family around 1996. I think we have an old VHS home movie that shows this house, church across the street, seaside view, and a little shop nearby. We met an old lady working in the shop who said she remembered grandma living here with her kids. I recall my mom, Jackie, saying that the police station where grandpa John Minott worked was near by this house and this is the area where they met. Nice snapshots Stef! :)
ReplyDeleteSteffi
ReplyDeleteThe answer to your question about Grandma selling household items. We were living in V.Town at the time and she wanted to help with Mammie's Nursing home bill. Jackie believes it could be around 1965. She sold mainly women clothing, underwear for girls boys and at time a few men shirts. She carried her goods in a bag and Jackie believes it is the beige bag that she carries around when she travels. Mama always say we must not throw that bag away. Jackie remember walking with Mama all of First Ave, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Ave, Deaneary road, to Mountain View and to Back Bush which was the dirt lanes off Mountain View Ave. She gave her customers whatever they wanted on credit as long as they gave something towards the bill. She kept records of all her sales in a little book and as we got older she would send us to collect what was due each week. After a while she opened her first store downtown Kingston down a lane but it was too slow. She move to Mountain View Ave. Here she put her machine in she sewed and added buttons, lace, zippers thread women,men and children clothing I believe she also had material by the yard for sale. She moved to Windward Road and she did good business there we all went to the store and helped her.
I have an invoice book from Auntie Winsome and Grandma's store "Just Accessories" with dates from May 12, 1989 to August 30, 1989. I believe grandma Minott wrote many of the entries in the books. They sold blouses, zippers, elastic, buttons, needle, thread, and even "band dos." Mom believes that this store was on Red Hills road. Grandma's original store on Windward Road in the late 1960's/early 1970s was called Chick's Dress Shop.
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